Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is on an unprecedented roll right now.
Stafford became the first quarterback since the merger to throw four touchdowns and no interceptions in three straight games during Sunday’s 42-26 win over the 49ers. He’s also the first Rams quarterback to throw for at least four touchdowns in three straight games and keeping Stafford in the zone is the No. 1 thing on wide receiver Puka Nacua’s mind heading into Week 11.
“When you’re on a heater, you just don’t touch whatever he’s doing,” Nacua said, via the team’s website. “I’m like, ‘You could do whatever. You could walk on water right now.’”
One of Sunday’s touchdown passes was the 400th of Stafford’s career, so it’s not new to see him playing at a high level. This particular level is new, though, and reaching it is sparking a lot of thoughts about the Rams’ chances of making a run at a second Super Bowl with Stafford running the show.
Rams wide receiver Davante Adams left in the fourth quarter with what the team called a back injury. They listed him as questionable return, though he didn’t.
Coach Sean McVay said afterward that Adams actually has an oblique injury.
McVay added he didn’t have an update but thinks the six-time Pro Bowler could have returned if the game had been in doubt.
It’s the second consecutive week McVay has corrected an in-game announcement.
Wide receiver Puka Nacua was reported with a chest injury in last week’s game that McVay referred to as a rib injury.
Adams has a league-leading nine touchdown receptions after making another in the 42-26 win over the 49ers.
Matthew Stafford threw his 400th career touchdown pass, and the Rams blew out the 49ers 42-26 on Sunday.
The Rams quarterback was 24-of-36 for 280 yards and four touchdowns. He has 20 touchdowns and no interceptions in the past five games and a league-leading 25 touchdowns for the season.
He threw touchdown passes of 22 yards to Puka Nacua, 4 yards to Davis Allen, 2 yards to Davante Adams and 16 yards to Colby Parkinson. Stafford now has 402 career passing touchdowns, joining Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539), Aaron Rodgers (517), Brett Favre (508), Philip Rivers (421), Dan Marino (420) and Ben Roethlisberger (418) in the 400 club.
Adams caught six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, and Nacua had five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Kyren Williams ran for 73 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
The Rams led 21-0 early in the second quarter, and every time the 49ers made a run to get within one score, Los Angeles answered.
The Rams had 401 yards.
The 49ers, who beat the Rams 26-23 in overtime on Oct. 2, had 393 yards but committed two turnovers and once turned it over on downs. Mac Jones was 33-of-39 for 319 yards with three touchdowns and an interception, with George Kittle catching nine for 84 yards and a touchdown and Jauan Jennings six for 71 yards and a touchdown.
The Rams are 7-2, with four consecutive wins since their loss to the San Francisco, while the 49ers fell to 6-4.
Rams receiver Davante Adams scored his ninth touchdown of the season, the most he has had since 2022.
But Adams left early with a back injury.
In the fourth quarter, Adams pushed off and immediately pulled up and grabbed his back. He left the field for treatment.
The Rams list him as questionable to return, but considering the game is not in doubt, it would seem unlikely Adams returns.
He has six catches for 77 yards.
Adams entered Sunday’s game with 36 receptions for 491 yards and a league-leading eight touchdowns.
The 49ers are back in it.
San Francisco, which trailed 21-0 early in the second quarter, has cut its deficit to 21-14 with 9:33 remaining in the third quarter.
The 49ers scored a touchdown with 3:15 left in the first half on Jauan Jennings’ 6-yard touchdown reception. They opened the second half with a 10-play, 65-yard touchdown drive.
San Francisco, which had 31 rushing yards in the first half, had 28 on its first drive of the second half. Brian Robinson had five carries for 24 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run on the possession.
Mac Jones is 19-of-23 for 188 yards and a touchdown.
